Manifold transfer device



G.' U. LACROIX MANIFOLD TRANSFER DEVICE Aug. ll, 1936.

Filed June 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx :1l I.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxu INVENTOR rEQSa/wsf:y U Ama/,r m1* 77m@ ATTORNEYSAug. l1, 1936. G, u, LACROIX MANIFOLD TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 3, 19553 Sheets-Sheet 2 UHHHHHWUHHHw, C XX ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1936. G. U.LAcRolx MANIFOLD TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 3, `1955 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 5VA M c n R 0U T. mf NG 1R w ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a manifold transfer device for use in makingmultiple copies on a typewriter and in general the object of theinvention is to simplify the construction and lower the cost ofmanufacture of such transfer devices.

A further object is to provide an arrangement for facilitating theassembly of the carbon sheets with the copy sheets and thus save thetime of the operator in the use of the device. A still further object isto provide means whereby the carbon sheets may be separately andindividually replaced when used up, thus contributing further to theeconomy in the use of the device.

In my previous patent dated June 28, 1932, No. 1,865,115, I have shownand described a manifold transfer device of the general character but ofdifferent construction than the one here presented, and the method ofuse of such a device is fully described therein. In general the functionof such a device is to provide means for typing a ribbon copy and one ormore carbon copies upon copy sheets which are in the form of continuoussuperposed strips commonly known as fold packs. The strips have weakenedlines of rupture at regularly spaced intervals so that the individualcopy sheets may be easily separated from the strips when the typingthereon is completed. Necessary carbon sheets are interleaved with thecopy sheets, said carbon sheets however being commensurate in size onlywith the individual copy sheets and the arrangement thereof in such thatafter typing each set of copy sheets, the continuous strips may berepositioned f lying carbon and copy sheets;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along line 3-3 Of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of the extension sheet and car* bon sheet in detachedrelation;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one rear corner of a carbon sheet and aforward corner of the extension sheet showing the detachable means forinterlocking the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional and schematic view of the typewriter platen andthe device in position at the completion of the typing on a set of copysheets;

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 showing the 5 relative position ofsaid parts when the copy sheets or strips are repositioned with respectto the carbon sheets;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the relative position of parts after acompleted set of copy 10 sheets has been torn off and in position fortyping a new set of copies;

Fig. 9 isa view similar to Fig. 6 in which the extension sheet is.placed on top of the copy sheets; and

Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary end view to show the guiding and stop devices.

It will be understood that in the drawings, the dimensions, particularlythe thickness of the sheets, have been exaggerated for the purpose ofclearness in disclosure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates an extensionsheet which may be made of any suitablethin flexible and durablematerial. For this purpose cloth may be used, treated or otherwiseprepared to give it both strength and an attractive appearance. In mypreferred form of extension sheet marginal portions 2 and 3 at thesides, and a rear marginal portion 4 are folded upon themselves andstitched to the body of the sheet for reenforcement. The rear marginalportion 4 is preferably stiiened by a suitable insert or stay 4 ofstiffening m'aterial such as cardboard or Celluloid.

At the rear end 4 of said extension sheet near each corner thereof andon the front side, as shown, are secured guiding devices 5 and 6. Theseare preferably in the form of substantially natu-shaped pieces of metalwhich guide `the marginal edges of the copy strips and keep said stripsin proper association with the extension and carbon sheets. Upon eachmarginal portion near the rear end of said extension sheet are securedstop devices 1 and 8 as shown. These stop devices are preferably angularpieces of metal each with one arm fastened to the body of the sheet andthe other arm extending at right angles thereto. The purpose of thesestop devices is to limit the travel of the extension sheet I around theplaten of the typewriter as will be hereafter described.

The carbon sheets which I generalize by the term transfer sheets, arepreferably made up as shown in Fig. 4 and comprise an ordinary sheet ofcarbon paper 9 with a reenforcing thin cardboard strip I Il at the rearedge thereof. The strip I0 is pasted to the rear edge of the carbonsheet and the forward edge of the carbon sheet has a cut away portionII. The reenforcing strip I0 extends transversely of the carbon sheet,somewhat beyond each marginal edge of the latter as shown, to provideinterlocking hook tabs I2 and I3. It will be understood that the widthof the carbon sheet is approximately the width of the copy sheets andslightly narrower than the full width of the extension sheet as shown inFig, 1. The lateral tabs I2 and I3 however are of suicient length tooverlap said marginal portions 2 and 3 of the extension sheet. At eachof the-forward corners of the extension sheet are provided pockets I4,I5 formed by doubling upon itself marginal portions of said extensionsheet which are fastened together by stitches I8 and I9. The pocketsthus formed open laterally toward the center of the sheet, for receivingthe tabs I2 and I3 of the reenforcing strip ID. The spot stitchings I8and I 9 near the inner edges of said pockets respectively provide meansfor hooking or otherwise securing by interlocking engagement the hookedtab members I2 and I3 when inserted in said pockets and pulleddownwardly thereon as shown in Fig. 5. By this method of detachablysecuring the carbon sheets to the extension sheet I have added noappreciable thickness thereto and therefore this portion of theextension sheet and its secured carbons may pass easily between theplaten 23 and its presser rolls 24 in the operation of the device ashereinafter described.

It will be understood that as many carbon sheets as desired may beemployed in association with an extension sheet, the number thereofbeing varied to suit the particular work inkhand since said individualcarbon sheets are separately secured to said extension sheet by havingthe respective tabs I2 and I3 engage in the pockets I4 and I5 as shown.It will also be appreciated that when a carbon-sheet has been used up itmay be quickly renewed and replacedbtr another carbon sheet of similarform.

It will be noted that in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive the extension sheet I islocated on the under side or back of the sheet pack so as to directlyengage the platen of the typewriter. In this form the extension sheetmay be lengthened if desired so as .to be coextensive with the carbonsheets and thus form a reenforcing backing sheet therefor.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to locate the extensionsheet on the top side of the sheet pack as shown in Fig. 9. In this casethe extension sheet I should be relatively short as shown and not extendover the carbons, since it would then cover the copy sheets when inwriting position. Also in this form of arrangement the guide devices 5,6 should be mounted on the underside (platen side) of the extensionsheet, in other words, on the same side as the stop devices "I, 8, whichalways project from the under side of the extension sheet so as toengage with the platen.

The operation and use of my manifold transfer device on a typewriter areas follows. The forward end of a copy sheet strip 20 will be insertedbeneath the guiding devices 5, 6 and over the front side of theextension sheet I, and pulled beyond the forward end of said extensionsheet for a distance slightly greater than the length of a single copysheet, see Fig. 1. Thereupon a carbon sheet 9 is superimposed upon' saidcopy sheet and the tabs I2 and I3 of said carbon sheet are interlockedwith the pockets I4, I 5 at the forward corners of the extension sheet.The forward end of the copy sheet is made to register with the forwardend of the carbon sheet. In a similar manner successive copy sheets andcarbon sheets are superimposed one above the other until the desirednumber of copy sheets and carbon sheets are assembled, the last copysheet of course being on top. In this assembly all the front edges ofthe copy sheets should be in substantial registration with the frontedges of the carbon sheets thereby insuring that each underlying copysheet will be covered by a carbon sheet. The rupture line of the copystrips is indicated at 2| in Fig. 1.

The assembly is then mounted on the typewriter, the forward ends of thesuperimposed sheets being fed around the platen so as to bring the topcopy sheet in position for typing. After the typing has been completed(it being assumed that the typing continued to the bottom of a copysheet) the parts will be in position as shown in Fig. 6. The operatorwill then turn the platen by hand to feed the assembled sheets forwardlyuntil the rear ends 2l of the foremost copy sheets and carbon sheets arecompletely clear of said platen and the parts will then be in theposition shown in Fig. 7. The purpose of the stop devices on theextension sheet will now be apparent since at this time the right anglearms will engage the platen and limit any further travel of theextension sheet around the same. It will be understood that the papertable or guide 22 which is at the rear of the platen 23 on the usualtypewriter will serve to insure the engagement of said stop devices 9and I0 against the platen.

In the position of Fig. '7 the rear ends of the carbon sheets are alsoclear of the platen, the only elements of the assembly now extendingaround the platen being the extension sheet and the copy strips. ,Thepaper release lever of the typewriter (not shown) is then operated torelease the grip of the platen presser rolls 24 upon the copy stripswhich extend around the platen. The forward ends of the copy strips atthe portions marked by the eut-outs II of the carbons are then graspedby the operator and pulled until the foremost set of copy sheets is'completely clear of said carbon sheets which will of course bring asecond set of copy sheets in registration with said carbon sheets. Thedotted line 2l in Fig. 7

indicates where the finished copy sheets may be torn olf. Then the paperrelease lever of the typewriter is reset and the platen is rotated back-Wardly to position the assembled carbon sheets and copy strips fortyping on a new set of copy sheets. The previously typed copy sheets arethen torn off along their weakening lines and the operation may berepeated until the complete fold pack of copy strips is used up. Asbefore stated, individual carbon sheets may be easily and quicklyreplaced from time to time and thus a reassembly of the device is onlyrequired for the use of a new fold pack.

While I have described the preferred embodiment in which my inventionmay be practiced, I

appreciate that various changes in the details of 'a construction shownmay be readily made and consequently the limitations to what I regard asnew in the invention are defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A manifold transfer device for use in a typewriter comprising incombination a flexible extension sheet, means for detachably securingone or more carbon sheets, in interleaved relation with copy sheets, tofront marginal portions of the extension sheet, said detachable securingmeans comprising flat strips permanently secured to the rear edgeportion of the carbon sheets and provided at each end with flatlaterally extending, forwardly and inwardly opening hook-shaped tabspositioned atthe rear corners ofthe carbon sheets, the side marginalportions of the extension sheet being double ply to form fiat pockets inwhich said tabs may be inserted, said plies being lsecured together atpoints toform means within the pockets with which the hooks of the tabsmay be engaged, the material of the extension sheet and tabs beingsufficiently thin so that their combined thickness will pass readilybetween the platen and pressure applying means of the typewriter.

2. A manifold transfer device for use in a typewriter comprising incombination a flexible extension sheet having means at the rear endthereof to limit its travel around the platen of the typewriter, meansfor detachably securing one or more carbon sheets, in interleavedrelation with copy sheets, to front marginal portions of the extensionsheet, said detachable securing means comprising flat strips permanentlysecured to the rear edge portion of the carbon sheets and provided ateach end with at laterally extending, forwardly and inwardly openinghook-shaped tabs positioned at the rear corners of the carbon sheets,the side marginal portions of/the extension sheet being double. ply toform flat pockets in which said tabs may be inserted, said plies beingsecured together at points to form means within the pockets with whichthe hooks of the tabs may be engaged, the material of the extensionsheet and tabs being sufficiently thin so that their combined thicknesswill pass readily between the platen and pressure applying means of thetypewriter.

3. A manifold transfer device for use in a typewriter comprising incombination a flexible extension sheet having means at the rear endthereof to limit its travel around the platen of the typewriter, meansseparate from said rst named means to guide and support a plurality ofsuperposed copy sheets in alignment on the extension sheet, means fordetachably securing one or more carbon sheets, in interleaved relationwith copy sheets, to front marginal portions of the extension sheet,said detachable securing means comprising flat strips'perrnanentlysecured to the rear edge portion of the carbon sheets and provided ateach end with flat laterally extending, forwardly and inwardly openinghook-shaped tabs positioned at the rear corners of the carbon sheets,the side marginal portions of the'extension sheet being double ply toform fiat pockets in which said tabs may be inserted, said plies beingsecured together at points to form means within the pockets with whichthe hooks of the tabs may be engaged, the material of the extensionsheet and tabs being suiciently thin so that their combined thicknesswill pass readily between the platen and pressure applying means of thetypewriter.

4. A carbon sheet adapted tobe releasably connected to the extensionmember of a multiple copying device for typewriters', a strip of thinreenforcing material, stiffer than the material of the carbon sheetitself, permanently secured to the rear edge portion of the sheet andprovided at each end with fiat laterally extending portions in the formof inwardly and forwardly opening hooks forming means for detachablyconnecting the rear,` corners of the carbon sheet to the extensionmember of the copying device said strip being sufficiently thin so thatthe combined thicknessof the carbon sheetand strip will pass read- 'iIybetween the platen and pressure applying

